Would you mod at 200K miles?

[benjamin247]

I just bought a 4Runner Limited with 202K miles. This previous owner(s) kept it all stock. Everything works and runs excellent. Only thing that really bugs me is the clear coat deteriorating on the hood and roof. Would you keep it stock, or would you do mods (such as lift, wheels and tires, repaint, upgrade sound system, etc) to it?

I'm pretty new to 4Runners, if you were to do any mods, what would be the first thing you would do?

 

[Quadsbc]

I started modding at 225k

 

[jmildoc]

Ill just say it before everyone else blows you up about it.

MAINTENANCE FIRST!!!!

There are hundreds of threads on this. Take a look around then decide.

 

[AZ4Running]

I started moding at 257k

 

[BlackCat914]

I forget his name here, but there's a guy here that did a SAS and a bunch of other stuff at like 415k.

 

[Ol'Blue]

I forget his name here, but there's a guy here that did a SAS and a bunch of other stuff at like 415k.

That is Rob and is crazy SAS'ed 3rd Gen.

As said, Maint first and get it running solid first. That means T-Belt water pump etc etc. The trucks will run 600k or more if you take car of them. Then have fun Moding the hell out of it. Mine is at 250,000 and the mod's are about to start. To make you feel better. I just loaded the family up and did a weekend trip from MO to Colorado over Thanksgiving to play in the snow and wheel and had no issue out of this 4Runner at all. Other than the broken cross bar on the roof rack from all the stuff on my Yack Rack.

Blue

 

[benjamin247]

That is Rob and is crazy SAS'ed 3rd Gen.

As said, Maint first and get it running solid first. That means T-Belt water pump etc etc. The trucks will run 600k or more if you take car of them. Then have fun Moding the hell out of it. Mine is at 250,000 and the mod's are about to start. To make you feel better. I just loaded the family up and did a weekend trip from MO to Colorado over Thanksgiving to play in the snow and wheel and had no issue out of this 4Runner at all. Other than the broken cross bar on the roof rack from all the stuff on my Yack Rack.

Blue

Thanks for the input all! I'm starting to see how awesome this truck really is. I was worried I was putting money into a truck that's life was almost over, but now I see it might not even be halfway to being over.

Good advice on maintenance first. I'll make sure I take care of this first. I took it to my mechanic and he suggested a few things (differential fluid flush and replace shocks). T-belt were replaced by the previous owner last year. Not sure when or if the water pump was replaced. Would a mechanic know this needs to be replaced during the inspection?

 

[GVL]

Make sure your timing belt has been replaced - look for sticker in engine compartment and see when it was replaced.

Definitely do an external tranny cooler if not already done. Search "pink milkshake" and you will see why - make this priority #1.

Tranny fluid flush and change if you're not sure when last done.

As mentioned, do a search on gen 3 preventative maintenance and you will see plenty of other suggestions.

 

[paddlenbike]

Like everyone said, maintenance first. The 3rd gen is just a really good, solid vehicle and definitely worth modding for the longterm. Other vehicles of its era like the S10 Blazer, not so much.

 

[mxer]

What else are you going to do? Go back in time to mod?

 

[Drcoffee]

If you plan to alter the suspension, change the LBJs now. They tend to fail catastrophically and faster once you lift it. First thing you should do is replace the radiator before it fails. add a tranny cooler and probably replace radiator and heater hoses. The rear heater has caused overheating problems for these trucks cause they rust out and leak out all your coolant under the passenger seat where you won't see it until the engine fails. I simply disconnected the rear heater lines up at the firewall by connecting a hose from the inlet to the outlet. Its never been an issue with staying warm, the front heater does a good job of heating the whole truck. I still can't understand why they would use steel lines, under the truck for coolant. Aluminum or stainless would have been a better choice.

 

[ReconCmdr]

If you plan to alter the suspension, change the LBJs now. They tend to fail catastrophically and faster once you lift it. First thing you should do is replace the radiator before it fails. add a tranny cooler and probably replace radiator and heater hoses. The rear heater has caused overheating problems for these trucks cause they rust out and leak out all your coolant under the passenger seat where you won't see it until the engine fails. I simply disconnected the rear heater lines up at the firewall by connecting a hose from the inlet to the outlet. Its never been an issue with staying warm, the front heater does a good job of heating the whole truck. I still can't understand why they would use steel lines, under the truck for coolant. Aluminum or stainless would have been a better choice.

I don't mean to jack the thread so I apologize up front. I did not know there was a heater in the rear? Is this on every 4-runner or just specific models? I am assuming the models that have heat/ac coming out the back of the center counsel.

As a side note to the OP I had about 250,000 on mine when I sunk almost 10k by now in mods. Worth every penny, but as stated by others, maintenance first.

 

[my92t4r]

Put on a snorkel and you will gain 15+ whp

 

[Brique]

Some models have a heater for the backseat, it's under the passenger seat, but the controls are on the back of the center console.

 

[AZ4Running]

I don't mean to jack the thread so I apologize up front. I did not know there was a heater in the rear? Is this on every 4-runner or just specific models? I am assuming the models that have heat/ac coming out the back of the center counsel.

As a side note to the OP I had about 250,000 on mine when I sunk almost 10k by now in mods. Worth every penny, but as stated by others, maintenance first.

No at all came with the rear heat. Some have it and some dont. Yeah it is under the center arm rest and the controls are on the back if the arm rest, no reac ac just heat and just on the floor. I guess its good to warm up the feet on a cold day or to help warm up the rear a little faster. My 97 sr5 has it but i worked on a 01 sr5 that did not and a 00 limited that also did not.

 

[Range]

Holy shit there are some high mileage numbers on here. I have 122k on a 03' G4 Limited V8 and stopped at the Shocks/Coil lift, Shrockworks bumper and tires thinking 122k was a lot. Car has never been in a climate other than dry and desert so there's zero rust. Looks like I need to let my balls drop and start modding again.

 

[98WhiteT4R]

I started at 170k but I made sure I knocked out all maintnaince first and whatever came up along the way. If I hadn't done all the maintnaince my car would prob have A LOT more cool stuff done to it.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Call me crazy, but I'm at 362k now and plan to start mods after I finish up with saftey stuff. Just ordered both rack and front sway bar bushings since I'll be replacing the outer (and probably inner) tie rods very soon.

Once that is done, I'll be putting on the OME 880/906 lift since my truck has all original suspension and I'm saggin hard enough to litteraly be riding the bumpstops in the rear. New tires will quickly follow.

Since I've already had lower ball joints replaced and did the front brakes recently, I will start the mods with brand new carpet kit, and front seat replacement/repair. My list of minor mods is endless. So many great ideas in this forum to consider — and perhaps an original mod or two from me.

To add to this, I have no experience working on autos. This 4Runner has become both an adventure and a learning tool for me. I know if I just get a newer truck without all the issues, I will never learn to do the work myself. It's all the little things that need to be fixed from interior dash lights and loose shifter handles to weird electrical anomalies and leaky wheel cylinders — that will make me more knowledgable about 3rd gen 4runners...or at least on 97 Ltds.

Snatching this truck back from the jaws of death and rebuilding it to better than new — has become my new hobby.

When the engine or transmission eventually go, I'll just replace them and hopefully get 3-4 hundred thousand more miles.

 

[Drcoffee]

This is how my heater lines looked. the rust was 100% thru. Not sure why it hadn't leaked but it was only a matter of days away from failing. They crumbled when I pulled them out.

 

[Fochps]

I bought mine with 230k. I have since done lift, tires, stereo, rack, lights etc.... So I'd say go for it!